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TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL HEALTH STANDARDS COMMISSION

SEPTEMBER 2010 REPORT

CHAPTER 9.6.

VARROOSIS OF HONEY BEES

Article 9.6.1.

General provisions

For the purposes of this Chapter, varroosis is a disease of the honey bee Apis mellifera L. It is caused by the
Korea and Japan haplotypes of the mite Varroa destructor, the original hosts of which are the Korea and Japan
haplotypes of Apis cerana (under study). The mite is an ectoparasite of adults and brood of Apis mellifera L.
During its life cycle, sexual reproduction occurs inside the honey bee brood cells. Early signs of infection
normally go unnoticed, and only when infection is heavy does it become apparent. The infection spreads by
direct contact from adult bee to adult bee, and by the movement of infested bees and bee brood. The mite
can also act as a vector for viruses of the honey bee.

The number of parasites steadily increases with increasing brood activity and the growth of the bee
population, especially late in the season when clinical signs of infestation can first be recognised. The life span
of an individual mite depends on temperature and humidity but, in practice, it can be said to last from some
days to a few months.

Standards for diagnostic tests are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

When authorising import or transit of the commodities covered in the chapter, with the exception of those listed
in Article 9.6.2., Veterinary Authorities should require the conditions prescribed in this chapter relevant to the
varroosis status of the honey bee population of the exporting country or zone.

Article 9.6.2.

Trade in Safe commodities

When authorising import or transit of the following commodities, Veterinary Authorities should not require any
varroosis related conditions, regardless of the varroosis status of the honey bee population of the exporting
country or zone:

1. honey bee semen, honey bee eggs and honey bee venom;

2. extracted honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly for human consumption and processed beeswax (not in the
form of honeycomb).

When authorising import or transit of other commodities listed in this Chapter, Veterinary Authorities should
require the conditions prescribed in this Chapter relevant to the varroosis status of the honey bee population
of the exporting country or zone.
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Article 9.6.3.

Determination of the varroosis status of a country or zone/compartment

The varroosis status of a country or zone/compartment (under study) can only be determined after considering
the following criteria:

1. a risk assessment has been conducted, identifying all potential factors for varroosis occurrence and their
historic perspective;

2. varroosis should be notifiable in the whole country or zone/compartment (under study) and all clinical signs
suggestive of varroosis should be subjected to field and laboratory investigations;

3. an on-going awareness programme should be in place to encourage reporting of all cases suggestive of
varroosis;

4. the Veterinary Authority or other Competent Authority with responsibility for reporting and control of diseases
of honey bees should have current knowledge of, and authority over, all domesticated apiaries in the
country.

Article 9.6.4.

Country or zone/compartment (under study) free from varroosis

1. Historically free status

A country or zone/compartment (under study) may be considered free from the disease after conducting a
risk assessment as referred to in Article 9.6.3. but without formally applying a specific surveillance programme
(historical freedom) if the country or zone/compartment (under study) complies with the provisions of
Chapter 1.4.

2. Free status as a result of an eradication programme

A country or zone/compartment (under study) which does not meet the conditions of point 1 above may be
considered free from varroosis after conducting a risk assessment as referred to in Article 9.6.3. and when:

a) the Veterinary Authority or other Competent Authority with responsibility for reporting and control of
diseases of honey bees has current knowledge of, and authority over, all domesticated apiaries existing
in the country or zone/compartment (under study);

b) varroosis is notifiable in the whole country or zone/compartment (under study), and any clinical cases
suggestive of varroosis are subjected to field and laboratory investigations;

c) for the 3 years following the last reported case of varroosis, an annual survey supervised by the
Veterinary Authority, with negative results, have been carried out on a representative sample of apiaries
in the country or zone/compartment (under study) to provide a confidence level of at least 95% of
detecting varroosis if at least 1% of the apiaries were infected at a within-apiary prevalence rate of at
least 5% of the hives; such surveys may be targeted towards areas with a higher likelihood of disease;

d) to maintain free status, an annual survey supervised by the Veterinary Authority, with negative results,
is carried out on a representative sample of apiaries in the country or zone/compartment (under study) to
indicate that there has been no new cases; such surveys may be targeted towards areas with a higher
likelihood of disease;
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e) (under study) there is no self-sustaining feral population of A. mellifera, the Korea and Japan
haplotypes of Apis cerana or other possible host species in the country or zone/compartment (under
study);

f) the importation of the commodities listed in this Chapter into the country or zone/compartment (under
study) is carried out in conformity with the recommendations of this Chapter.

Article 9.6.4.bis

Apiary free from varroosis

1. The apiary is located in a country or zone complying with the requirements in points 2. a) b) and f) of
Article 9.6.4.;

2. the apiary should be situated in an area with a radius of 50 kilometres in which no case of varroosis has
been reported for at least the past 2 years; and

3. the apiary meets the conditions prescribed in Article 4.14.3.

Article 9.6.5.

Recommendations for the importation of live queen honey bees, worker bees and drones with or
without associated brood combs

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate
attesting that the bees come from a country or zone/compartment (under study) officially free from varroosis or
the apiary meets the conditions prescribed in Article 9.6.4.bis.

Article 9.6.6.

Recommendations for the importation of larvae and pupae of honey bees

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate
attesting that the products:

1. were sourced from a free country or zone/compartment (under study); or

2. have originated from queens in a quarantine station and were inspected and found free of Varroa destructor.

(wait for member comments to modify larvae and pupae articles)

Article 9.6.7.

Recommendations for the importation of used equipment associated with beekeeping

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate
attesting that the equipment:

1. comes from a country or zone/compartment (under study) free from varroosis; or

2. contains no live honey bees or bee brood and has been held away from contact with live honey bees for
at least 7 21 days prior to shipment; or
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3. has been treated to ensure the destruction of Varroa destructor, in conformity with one of the procedures
referred to in Chapter X.X. recommended by the OIE (under study).

Article 9.6.8.

Recommendations for the importation of honey-bee collected pollen, beeswax (in the form of
honeycomb), comb honey and propolis

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate
attesting that the products:

Annex XX (contd)

1. come from a country or zone/compartment (under study) free from varroosis; or

2. contain no live honey bees or bee brood and has been held away from contact with live honey bees for at
least 7 21 days prior to shipment; or

3. have been treated to ensure the destruction of Varroa destructor, in conformity with one of the procedures
referred to in Chapter X.X. recommended by the OIE (under study).